Statement to UA Board of Regents

Statement to UA Board of Regents

by John Williams, Chair of the UAS Campus Council,
September 25, 2009

Finally, the Southeast region has something that’s growing.
And not because it’s been lavished with outside stimulus or
artificial fertilizer. The growth on our regional campuses is
akin to the organic process in nature wherein the struggles
realized by food crops to compete for their nutrients and to
fight off pestilence generates a healthier, more micro-nutrient
rich source of sustenance to the omnivores that feed on them.
In a similar way, UAS is providing to Southeast an economic
sustenance that pervades pretty much every aspect of our
economy.

In the six years I’ve been privileged to participate as an
outside advisor to the Chancellor and to have an insider’s
access to the programs, staff and faculty of UAS, I’ve
witnessed the struggles behind the growth and achievements.
The growth is not without its growing pains.

The economic fabric of our region would be comparatively
tattered cloth without UAS. We the members of the business
community commend all at UAS who strive to continue to
provide the training and accreditation required in our mining,
health-care, transportation and construction industries.
No one else provides the kind of intellectual laboratory
required to investigate and expand the understanding of our
resource rich waters and forests. No one else provides the
academic opportunities to fulfill the skill-building required
to fill the needs of our public sector. No one else creates
an environment that allows for the universal appreciation
and integration of our rich cultural diversity. Only UAS
opens its arms to students from around the State and nation and welcomes those who choose to partake of our unique
environment.

To all of you who have provided guidance and assistance
and who understand the role of UAS within our communities
—
to all that continue to persevere in keeping the goals
of the university clearly focused on its mission of fulfilling
our critical employment training, cultural appreciation, and
analytical investigation of our rich and unique environment,
we the communities of Southeast acknowledge our
indebtedness to you and continue to seek your enduring
support of this vital element that makes us all richer and
healthier in every way.